| Author | Message | ||
     Mikej |
"A very good friend of mine lost his job at H-D because he made a few comments on Buell enthusiast websites, and he didn't even mention any products, or divulge any secrets." Kind of curious what would be cause for dismissal if no product or secrets were divulged. | ||
| R1DynaSquid |
It was a certain someones husband who came on ATC & blasted a certain aspect of the Buell camp. He worked at HD & the next day was fired because of it. | ||
| Court |
Simple Metric: It's just not right. Harley-Davidson, as well as any major corporation from Safeway to Seagate, absolutely must be tight lipped. There are liability issues (yes, can you beleive folk have filed "yeah, but you lead me to beleive you were going to procuce this item in a year or two and I withheld another purchase based on what you said" - the old DETRIMENTAL RELIANCE trick) suits. The current "in vougue" scam is to take the slightest bit of "intel" create an $01.5 clay model in your garage and when it comes out in two years claim "hey, that was my idea...you owe me license fees" This scam occurs most frequently with movies and books....any one here ever have a dream about an alien kept in a closet? Your fortune may await you. The nature (don't ask me how I kill or I'll have to know you) of US Intellectual Property Law is changing. Those of you who read the front page article in lat week's Wall Street Journal will be aware of that. Court (trembling at the thought of having to ever answer for claims I made after a dozen or so beers in Hooter's and BASED ON THAT FEAR, willing to cut other some slack) | ||
| Court |
By the way...next person who visits the Buell Basement may be treated to a viewing of the shelf of items people have sent me asking that I forward them to Buell R&D. There's a darn good reason some of us who probably COULD find out what's in the pipe agressivley avoid asking or being told. You can never have what you don't know, held against you. I got my lesson late one night in Iowa. Court - I have complete faith in the good men and women at Buell being able to keep me provided with more fun than I can handle for the next 20 years. I fear my input would threaten that!  | ||
| Daves |
In Iowa huh? Come on, tell me that one! Did you send me that article yet? I'm with Court in the "not wanting to know" camp. Dave | ||
| Mikej |
Court, What day was that WSJ article printed on? Sounds like something I should read. Or a link to it. Thanks. As far as pre-development stuff goes, I like to see the very early stuff and watch it get developed and refined as it nears production. Sometimes the story and the process something goes thru adds much to the appreciation of the final results. | ||
| Bomber |
heck, I WANT to know (Maslov was right, after all), but not at the price it might cost another -- just ain't worth it | ||
| Reepicheep |
I'm with Bomber. I am with Mikej as well, but do it right. Keep notes and shoot video during development, and release the DVD special when the bike comes out, not before. :/ You know, like they did with the Vrod on the discovery channel. It was a great special, and I enjoyed it, but it was breaking my heart to see them keep showcasing it as a technical marvel, when I know harley really WAS producing a technical marvel over in East Troy... :/ | ||
| Daves |
For Buell to let the cat out of the bag on future products would be very stupid. Dyna, you claim to want Buell to do well but yet you take every opportunity to post things you see or heard or somebody's cousins brother in law said. If you would think this through and if you really would like to see Buell to do well you would realize that all it does is make people hesitate to buy a Buell, always waiting for those rumored bikes. Well I've got a news flash for you, guess where the money for new products comes from? Yep, selling the current products. Anything that hurts the sales of current products also hurts the development of future ones. So for all of you that want the future of Buell to be bright, I think you should all come to Appleton today and buy a 04 or 05. Maybe that will put them over the top for the dollars to make the next generation Buell?  Dave PS, I heard from my brothers, inlaws, dog sitters friend the lawn mower guys father while he was at Starbucks that in 06 Yamaha will have a new model coming out so nobody should buy one until they release this new model. He said not to say anything so don't tell them you heard it from me. | ||
| Blake |
I still recall the "Tell us, show us, tell us... something, please!" Buell gave an early look at the Firebolt, then three months later it was "Stupid Buell, where is it, where is it, where is it, they misled us." Not likely Buell will ever again give advance notice on any new products. | ||
| Outrider |
So for all of you that want the future of Buell to be bright, I think you should all come to Appleton today and buy a 04 or 05. Maybe that will put them over the top for the dollars to make the next generation Class...This is an excellent example of a streetwise "Entrepreneur." | ||
| Mikej |
"Anything that hurts the sales of current products also hurts the development of future ones. " Ahhh, but the corollary to this is the people who own 'tubers with parts getting discontinued and parts counter people at local shops who can't find superceded numbers in parts books or in their computer system such as looking up the "recommended spark plug for a 1995 Buell S2", these current and former customers who's needs or desires are not meet by the current product offerings and who's current maintenance needs are not being met due to the discontinuance of necessary parts, these customers need to know if something is in the development pipeline if Buell hopes to keep or recapture them as customers. I still contend the biggest issue Buell as a company need to solve is the dealership factor. In the case of the spark plugs noted above, I walked into a local dealership (not Hal's) and said I wanted some 10R12 spark plugs. The counter guy asked what they were for so I told him a 2000 M2 and a 1995 S2. He verified they were correct for the M2, but then went on a search and redirected search and another redirected search as one plug was superceded to another plug part number in his system to yet another and another and another. I told him there was a service bulletin about spark plugs for Buells, yet he continued on the redirected path trying to track down what the correct recommended spark plugs were for the 1995 Buell S2. After 10 minutes of watching him disappear into the back room, then back to his computer screen, then the parts book, then the computer screen, then the back room again, then lather rinse repeat, I finally just paid for the two plugs on the counter and left. He's still probably trying to track down the plugs for the S2. This does not instill confidence on the part of a Buell owner in the Dealership network and their communications with Buell corporate and H-D/Buell parts procurement. I'm just one guy who sometimes types a lot ( ), and has several red stars on my non-existant folder due to things said and articles written and submitted but not published yet still internally circulated on a limited basis ("I heard it through the grapevine" to quote a song). But I do currently own two Buell motorcycles, bought my M2 without even taking one for a test ride first (only real regret is I should have bought the one with the removable side plate instead of the 2000 model, but since I haven't broken a belt yet that is a moot point). The CityX bike seems like a fun play bike. I've test rode the 9R when it first came out, not for me. The 12R is basically a 9R for the things I look at in a bike (fit and feel and handling, function over form first, even though you could argue that the function is better in the XB's than in the M2's, but fit is primary, don't matter how well it functions if it don't fit  ). The 9S/12S are in the same category to me as the CityX, fun bikes, but not practical for my needs and wants. Right now I'm shopping for a cruiser to use for two-up adult riding. I do not want a SportBike. I could make a SportTourer work if it had a passenger backrest to help the passenger not feel like they were about to fall off the back of the bike. I do not see anything in the current Buell lineup to fit my current shopping needs. Also, I'm not currently a BRAG nor HOG member, so in a sense I'm off the radar screens anyway. If I get a HOGish cruiser, even if it ends up being a 20-60 year old model, I'll probably renew my HOG membership/subscription. My BRAG membership went the way of the S2 spark plugs at a particular local dealership, perhaps when they can be found so perhaps can I again. Rant off, finger tips numb, S2 in the parking lot today with a rear tire nearly scrubbed in but still felt a few slips on the way in this morning. Hopefully something in this diatribe relates to something relevant to the discussion at hand. If not then just pass the coffee pot and point me to the restrooms. In the mean time I'll be on TraderOnline looking at 1902-1967 model year bikes within a 75 mile radius of my zip code.  | ||
| Darthane |
Same boat as when I had the 9R and the 12s were rumored/came out. If it happens, I'll go ride one. Then I'll get back on my Firebolt and happily ride home. My next bike's already chosen, and of all things it's a Yamaha. | ||
| Outrider |
Hi Mike...Great to read your Miscellaneous Ramblings again. Missed the mind opening experience the last few days. LOL Nope, no rumors on this end of town about a Buell Sport Tourer. Don't think they could do a decent two up version with the current geometry anyway. Could be a major wheelie machine with the added weight on the rear. The Cruiser-Built-for-Two sounds like your best bet. Although the aftermarket now has a really nice backrest for the ST1300. Alas, no cult bike status for the ST in this market. Used, they sell about as well as our Buells and other Non-Harley Machines. LOL Hey, what did you expect from a Company Town??? | ||
| Outrider |
Darthane...FYI, the FJR1300 is very popular in WI. Need proof, show up at the Slimy Crud Runs. They are almost as popular as the FZ1's and there are tons of those. | ||
| Court |
>>>What day was that WSJ article printed on? Sounds like something I should read. Or a link to it. Wall Street Journal Monday August 23rd, 2004 Page B1 - Marketplace Section "Patenting Good Ideas Could Hurt Companies Rather Than Help Them" - by Lee Gomes Dave - send me your new mailing address. Court | ||
| Mikej |
Thank you Court. With that I found it here since my WSJ subscription ended a couple of moves ago. http://matr.net/article-11804.html Bill, I think I'll go look at 2005 Sportsters and slap an older FXR gas tank onto it. And maybe some fringed leather saddle bags. | ||
| Outrider |
Mike...Ahhh, that would make it a short ranger like my Wide Glide. LOL Definitely something to be said about windshields, mid-pegs or floor boards and a big saddle for long range work. | ||
| Mikej |
Bill, that's all I need. Anything longer than 200 miles or so and I'll be riding solo anyway. And the M2 does or S2 should work just fine for longer solo jaunts. Unless I trade them both off for a '23T. | ||
| Outrider |
A '23T??? I haven't heard anything about that one. When is Buell supposed to introduce it? You must have snuck out and gone to Hooter's last night, eh?  | ||
| Mikej |
Nope. Grocery shopping. You'd be amazed what you can overhear in the produce section. | ||
| Cj_xb |
Where you squeezing the produce mikej ?? CJ | ||
| Crip2nite |
I hear they're gonna stop making 9's altogether!!  | ||
| Outrider |
Yep...that will be the new 3x3 Line.  Got that from my broker just this morning. | ||
| Mikej |
Nope, not a produce squeezer unless I'm making juice, don't squeeze the charmin either. Bill, Your broker told you they were coming out with a three cylinder 900? 3x300cc? (Now to sit back and see where this rumor goes. | ||
| Outrider |
Gosh...and I even tried to make it simple for you. How about a 4.5+4.5? I used to have a Pontiac Catalina 2+2 Convertible. Never understood the 2+2 designation. Was a 421ci with TriPower, 4 speed, posi and duals. Other that the duals, I couldn't find another 2. What's with that? | ||
| Mikej |
Guess I was too subtle with my old 2-stroke inference, but that was a nice lead-in with the 2+2 reference. http://www.musclecarclub.com/musclecars/pontiac-catalina/pontiac-catalina-histor y.shtml | ||
| Outrider |
Two Stroke??? I thought you were referencing a modern Triumph. LOL | ||
| Mikej |
Nah, the old Kawi triple, playing off of the original Buell 2-stroker. Been a long day interrupted by a fire in the shop that caused an evacuation with a lingering smokey aftersmell leading to a lovely afternoon headache. And with that I think I'll do the fresh slick tire dance home since it's now time to leave. | ||
| Darthane |
Outrider, that's exactly the bike I'm looking at. Need something comfortable for my g/f and I without giving uptoo much on the power/sportiness front. I saw one in Tokyo and just wandered around it for a while. By the time I'd walked away I decided I had to have one, even if Buell DOES come out with a ST bike. ...now if I could just dig up $12K somewhere... |
